July 01, 2007	Sunday	Jamadi-us-Sani 15, 1428

ATTOCK, June 30: A farmer was kidnapped by six armed men for Rs5 million ransom in Lundi Awanabad village on Friday night, it has been learnt. Malik Azam, a resident of Lundi Awanabad village, which comes in the jurisdiction of Rangu police station, told this reporter that his two cousins, Malik Lal and Malik Buksh, were sleeping in their fields when six armed men arrived there and forcibly took Malik Lal to an unknown place, leaving behind his brother Malik Buksh after tying him up.

The next day the kidnappers contacted the Malik Lal’s relatives and demanded a ransom of Rs5 million for his release, he added.

The matter was immediately reported to the Rangu police station, but so far the kidnapped person has not been traced.

Malik Azam said unknown armed persons had been roaming in the village and other surrounding areas late in the night for the last many days, creating a sense of insecurity among the villagers. Therefore the police should adopt proper measures to nab the criminals. When contacted, the SHO Rangu police station Inspector Zafar Shakeel confirmed the kidnapping case and said the police were investigating all aspects of the incident before registering the case as he claimed that it was a sensitive matter.